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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 201
BY REPRESENTATIVE PIERRE
A RESOLUTION
To commend musician Cedric Watson for his many accomplishments and promotion of
Creole music, culture, and language.
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to commend Cedric Watson, the four-time Grammy-
nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist, and songwriter with seemingly unlimited potential;
and
WHEREAS, born in San Felipe, Texas, in 1983, Cedric Watson grew up with rich
musical surroundings including blues, old soul, country, hip hop, and Zydeco music; and
WHEREAS, though his exposure to music was vast, it did not take long for Cedric
to develop a particular liking for Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music; and
WHEREAS, Cedric Watson made his first appearance at the age of nineteen at the
Zydeco Jam in Houston, Texas; and
WHEREAS, two years after that appearance, because of his growing love for Cajun
and Creole music, Mr. Watson packed his belongings and moved to Lafayette, Louisiana,
where he could fully immerse himself in the culture and the music; and
WHEREAS, over the next several years, Cedric performed French music in
seventeen countries and on seven full-length albums with various groups, including the Pine
Leaf Boys, Corey Ledet, Les Amis Creole with Ed Poullard and J.B. Adams, and with his
own group, Bijou Creole; and
WHEREAS, Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole masterfully resurrect the ancient
sounds of the French and Spanish contra dance and bourre' alongside the spiritual rhythms
of the Congo tribes of West Africa; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Watson has performed throughout the United States as well as in
other parts of the world including France, Nova Scotia, Haiti, and Spain; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 201
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WHEREAS, Cedric has a sincere desire to increase awareness around the world of
the culture and music he loves dearly; and
WHEREAS, with a seemingly bottomless repertoire of songs at his fingertips, Cedric
has mastered everything from forgotten Creole melodies and obscure reels of the famous
Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee to more modern Cajun and Zydeco songs, even occasionally
throwing in a bluegrass fiddle tune or an old string band number; and
WHEREAS, a prolific songwriter, Cedric writes almost all of his songs on his
double row Hohner accordion; and
WHEREAS, his songs channel his diverse ancestry to create his own brand of
sounds, his albums are a tapestry of pulsing rhythms and Creole poetry, and his live
performances are unforgettable, all at once progressive and nostalgic; and
WHEREAS, Cedric employs a creative style and an obvious joy in playing that
makes him an engaging and exciting performer who moves with ease between fiddle and
accordion, while his natural playfulness on stage makes him extremely fun to watch.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend and recognize musician Cedric Watson for
his many accomplishments and promotion of Creole music, culture, and language and does
hereby extend best wishes to Cedric Watson for continued success in his musical endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Cedric Watson.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES